The Trees Are Talking

Deep in the heart of Germany’s Ruhe Forest, an ancient community of trees is changing the way we look at nature

- Craig Stennett

IN HIS MYTHICAL TRILOGY Lord of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien tells the tale of a magical ancient wood inhabited by Ents— walking, talking tree herders tasked with the protection of Middle Earth’s primeval woodlands. Today, situated within middle Europe, there stands another ancient wood—but unlike Tolkien’s fantasy, this one is real.

In the German state of Rhineland- Palatinate, nestled tightly along the Belgium border, sits the 4,000-year old Ruhe Forest, comprised of beeches, West Germany’s indigenous tree species. A visit to this woodland entails a journey of twisting single track roads densely bordered by trees.

Even by mid-morning, the mists haven’t lifted from the road and the surrounding forests. It’s a landscape that seems saturated with legends.

Peter Wohlleben has been caring for the Ruheforst, its name in German, (which translates literally as “Resting Forest”) for the last ten years. The 52-year old could easily be described as the modern-day version of one of Tolkien’s fictitious tree herders. Standing at a slender six-foot-four, he mirrors the stature and presence of his surrounding beeches.

Born in Bonn, West Germany’s capital prior to reunification, Peter was trained as a traditional forester. Having already published quite a few books, he struck gold in 2015 with The Hidden Life of Trees.

In his book, Peter knits together recent scientific discoveries about trees and their forest communities with his own practical knowledge as a forester, in language that is accessible to the layman.The manuscript is meticulously indexed with supporting scientific research papers.